Norman Tapia Arrested in Connection with Battery and Sexual Assault of Underage Girlfriend

Police in Santa Rosa on Friday arrested a man in connection with several offenses related to the battery and sexual assault of his underage girlfriend. Norman Tapia, 28, of Santa Rosa, was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic battery, false imprisonment and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.

On Friday at 7:51 p.m., officers responded to a home in the 900 block of Billie Jean Street on a welfare check after the parents of a child told police they received a text message their daughter was being held against her will. The girl had run away from home in February, police said. Officers arrived at the home, knocked on the door and heard a female voice inside, but no one answered the door. The girl eventually ran out of the home through the front door to officers.

Police allege the girl had numerous visible injuries on her body, and she alleged they were from being hit by her boyfriend. The victim told police she tried leaving the residence but was allegedly held against her will on several occasions. She also said her and her boyfriend had allegedly been having consensual sex.

Police contacted two men in the apartment and identified Tapia as the victim’s boyfriend. The other man was Tapia’s roommate and was not involved in the alleged offenses, police said. Police said Tapia also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of Scotts Valley for forcible rape against the same victim. He was arrested and booked into the county jail.